Improvement in inclinometers



A. CHASE. lnclinomefer.

Patented Aug. 29, 1865.

74/'17 Wes ses; @4i/fa ITN/er: fav@ w al@ AARON CHASE, JR.,

OF SOMEEVILLE, HIMSELF AND TIMOTHY HOWE, OF

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT iN iNoLiNoMETERs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 49,675, dated August 29,1865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AARON CHASE, Jr., of Somerville, in the county ot' Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful or Improved Inclinometer or Angle-Meter to be fully described in the following specitication and represented in the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure l is a side view of it as opened; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of it; Fig. 8, atransverse section of one of its bars, taken through one of the end sights.

My invention is intended either for laying oft' or measuring angles, whether in horizontal or vertical planes, or for leveling and plumbing objects; and for such purposes its methods of use will be apparent to most artisans, especially to masons and carpenters, for whom it is more particularly intended.

It consists principally' ot' three bars, A B C, and a curved arc, D, hinged together and provided with spirit-levels and sights,in manner as hereinafter described.

The two bars A B are hinged together by a rulejoint at a, while the bar C is similarly hinged to the bar B at b, so that the three bars may be folded together edge to edge, and with the bar B between the two bars A and C, or so that the two bars A B may be arranged in a straight line with each other, and the bar C be movable to a position in which it will be at right angles to the other bars.

The two bars A B are provided with mortises for receiving the ends ot' the arc D and holding it in position with respect to them, as shown in Fig. l, there being a clampscrew, c, to each ot' the said mortises, and to hold the arc to the said bars A B. The arc D goes through the bar C, which is provided with a clamp-screw, d, for clamping thebar at a right angle or an acute angle with the bar B. For the determination of such angle the are D may be divided into degrees and parts of a degree. The bar B is provided with a spirit-level, e, ar-V ranged across it and in a box, j, iixed in it, each of the other bars having a recess, g, made in it to receive the projecting parts ot' the box when the three bars are folded together. There and I do hereby declare the same is also a spirit-level, h or z', applied to each of the bars A C, and arranged therein in manner as shown in the drawings. I would remark, however, that there may be another spiritlevel arranged in the opposite edge of either or each of the bars A C, in which case the instrument would be of more general use as an inclinometer or measurer of ramps or slopes. Near the outside end of each ot' the two bars AB there is applied to the bar two sights, which are hinged to the bar so as to be capable ot' being turned out of or into the sockets made transversely in the bar to receive them. Fig. et shows a pair ot' these sights as turned out ofthe bar. One of them has a simple eyehole made through it, while the other has a larger orifice with a hair or wire stretched across it. There is also such a sight as Vthat last mentioned app-lied to the outer end of the bar C, it being shown at lr. At or near theinner end of the bar C there is another sight, L, formed with an eye-hole through it, each of the said sights being so applied to its bar as to be capable of being turned down tinsh with, or brought up to a right angle with, the surface of the bar. Furthermore, the bar B, near its outer end, may have a double springcatch, m, to lock it to either or both of the other bars when closed against the same, the catch being operated or forced inward,in order to unlatch the bars, by pressing the finger on a knob or slider, u, projecting t'rom the catch and ont ot' the end ot' the bar B.

There may be one or more divided scales applied to each or either ot' the bars, it' desirable, one being exhibited at o as applied to the bar B.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to have secured by Letters Patent, is as follows:

The improved angle-meter or inclinometer, iliade substantially as described-wiz., ot' the three bars A I3 C and the are D, arranged and applied together and provided with levels and sights, as specified.

AARON CHASE, JR.

Witnesses R. H. EDDY, F. l?. HALE, J r. 

